Jonah Patel
As the 2024 US election draws near, Vice President Kamala Harris is in a close race with former President Donald Trump. Harris has received endorsements from prominent figures, including President Joe Biden, who chose her as his running mate in 2020. Harris has a reputation as a pragmatic politician and sharp-minded prosecutor, but her popularity has suffered due to challenging tasks assigned to her by the White House. Despite this, she has united her home state of California's political class behind her and built a recognizable political brand. Harris's supporters highlight her underdog victories and her ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Her critics argue that she has wavered in tougher political circumstances and point to her complicated legacy on criminal justice issues. With the election nearing, voters are closely examining the candidates and their stances, and the race between Harris and Trump remains tight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political brand | Recognizable |
| Political ladder | Climbed |
| Supporters | Prove her political mettle through underdog victories |
| Supporters | She is a pragmatic politician |
| Supporters | She is a sharp-minded prosecutor |
| Supporters | She is capable and has a great team |
| Critics | She has wavered in tougher political circumstances |
| Critics | She has a "tough on crime" track record |
| Voters | 48% say they would vote for Harris |
| Voters | 47% say they would support Trump |
| Voters | 5% of voters opt for a third-party candidate |
| Voters | 82% say they are certain they support Harris or Trump |
| Voters | 70% have thought "a lot" about the candidates |
| Voters | Harris is preferred among younger voters, Black voters, and those with a college degree |
| Voters | Trump is favored among older voters, White voters, and men |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris is the first Indian-American senator
Kamala Harris has made history several times over in her political career. She is the first Indian-American senator in the United States, the first woman and first African American to be elected attorney general of California, and the first South Asian American to hold that office. Harris also became the first African-American, first Indian-American, and first Asian-American vice president of the United States when she was elected on Joe Biden's ticket in 2020. She is also the third woman to be a vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.
Harris was born in Oakland, California, in 1964. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a biologist who immigrated to the United States from India in 1958 to enrol in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley. Harris's career in California politics began in 2003 when she ousted her boss as a candidate for San Francisco attorney. She went on to become the attorney general of California in 2010, winning reelection in 2014. During her tenure, she focused on consumer protection, criminal justice reform, and privacy rights.
In 2016, Harris won the Senate election and became the junior U.S. senator from California, serving from 2017 to 2021. As a senator, she advocated for stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and reforms to healthcare and taxation. She gained a national profile by asking pointed questions of officials in the Trump administration during Senate hearings. Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew before the primaries.
Despite some criticism of her record and suggestions that she has wavered in tougher political circumstances, Harris has proven her political mettle through underdog victories and has built a recognizable political brand in California. She has united her home state's political class behind her and received the endorsement of President Biden, who called his selection of Harris as his running mate "the best decision I've made." Harris has also been endorsed by prominent California Democrats, including U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Volunteers' Duties: Political Campaign Edition
You may want to see also
Harris is the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election
Kamala Harris, the first female vice president in US history, has been chosen as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election. Harris has a long history in politics, having risen through the California political and law enforcement ranks. She has served as San Francisco's district attorney, California's attorney general, and a United States senator. Harris has broken barriers throughout her career and is now poised to become the first Black woman to head a major party's presidential ticket.
President Joe Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee on July 21, 2024, and she secured the nomination on August 5, 2024. Harris will face off against Donald Trump in the fall. As the Democratic nominee, Harris will need to rally support from voters and engage directly with Americans across the country. This will involve holding in-person events, town halls, and utilising social media to reach a wide audience.
There are several ways in which people can show their support for Harris. Firstly, they can spread the word to their friends, family, neighbours, and communities, as suggested by the Harris-Walz campaign. This will help to create a groundswell of support and ensure that Harris' message reaches a wide audience. People can also show their support by attending Harris' campaign events and rallies, which will demonstrate enthusiasm and support for her candidacy.
Additionally, people can show their support through donations, volunteering, and other forms of grassroots organising. This could involve phone banking, canvassing, or distributing campaign materials. These efforts will help to ensure that Harris has the resources and support she needs to run a successful campaign. Finally, people can show their support by voting for Harris in the 2024 election and encouraging others to do the same.
Who Can See Political Donations?
You may want to see also
She has a complicated legacy on the criminal justice system
Kamala Harris, the current vice president of the United States, has a complicated legacy on the criminal justice system. Harris has spent more time as a prosecutor in California than as a senator or vice president in Washington. As a prosecutor, she mixed criminal justice reform with a tough-on-crime approach, which has drawn criticism from both progressives and police.
Harris has been criticised for her inconsistency and for appearing to alternate between a tough-on-crime image and that of an idealistic reformer. For example, in 2014, as California's attorney general, she appealed a federal court ruling that the state's death penalty law was unconstitutional, arguing that it was "not supported by the law". However, as senator and presidential candidate, she argued for a federal moratorium on the death penalty. She has also been criticised for her refusal to seek the death penalty for a man who had fatally shot a police officer, a decision for which she was vilified by the police.
However, Harris has also pushed for several reform initiatives throughout her career, including instituting the "Back on Track" youth diversion program to curb recidivism, implementing police reforms such as the installation of body cameras, and promoting dashboard data in police cars to make data such as arrests publicly available. She has also championed progressive legislation to address police transparency and accountability and to address disparities created by the war on drugs.
Harris's supporters argue that her approach as a prosecutor was tough but fair, and that she has evolved in her approach to criminal justice, demonstrating sensitivity to race, poverty, and other circumstances. They point to her comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice system and her commitment to reform as a senator and vice president.
The States That Will Make or Break Kamala's Win
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris has united her home state's political class behind her
Kamala Harris has united her home state's political class behind her, a notable feat given California's vast geography and fractured political microclimates. Harris has proven her political mettle through underdog victories, such as when she ousted her much better-known boss as a novice candidate for San Francisco attorney in 2003. She also beat a popular moderate GOP district attorney from Los Angeles—the state's most populous county—in a nail-biter win for state attorney general in 2010.
Harris's supporters say she built a recognizable political brand through the state as she climbed the political ladder. California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis recalled that during her first campaign in 2018, Harris's endorsement was powerful to voters, even if they had never met or worked with her personally. Harris's reputation as a pragmatic politician and sharp-minded prosecutor, along with her ability to connect with voters on issues that matter to them, has contributed to her support within her home state's political class.
However, Harris has also faced criticism for being too cautious and unwilling to take a stance on controversial issues. Some critics have accused her of prevarication or flip-flopping, particularly on issues such as federally mandated busing and the death penalty. Despite these concerns, Harris's allies and supporters within California's political class have been quick to play up their long-standing relationships with her and express their enthusiasm for her candidacy.
Harris's selection as Biden's vice president in 2020 also contributed to her recognition and support within her home state. While vice presidents rarely get much attention, Biden's endorsement of Harris as his preferred successor further united California's political class behind her.
Kamala Harris' Election Day: Location and Significance
You may want to see also
She is in a dead heat with Donald Trump in the polls
Kamala Harris has been a prominent figure in American politics for many years, and in 2024, she was the Democratic nominee for vice president alongside Joe Biden. In the 2024 election, Harris and Biden lost to Donald Trump, and in the aftermath, Harris found herself in a dead heat with Trump in the polls. This was likely due to the negative press she received during her time as vice president, where she was tasked with a series of challenging and unpopular duties. Despite this, Harris has proven herself to be a pragmatic politician, reflecting the positions of her clients rather than staking out bold, ideological agendas.
Harris has a long history in California politics, having served as San Francisco's attorney in 2003, state attorney general in 2010, and winning three statewide elections before joining the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020. She has united her home state's political class behind her, a difficult feat given California's diverse political landscape. This support is likely due to her underdog victories and her ability to connect with voters. Her supporters believe that she has the political mettle to take on any challenger, including Trump.
Harris's brand of politics is one that focuses on individual fixes to specific problems rather than a broad, ideological agenda. This has earned her both praise and criticism, with some calling her pragmatic while others accuse her of prevarication. However, her supporters argue that she is not an ideologue and is merely reflecting the positions of her clients, such as when she defended California's death penalty as state attorney general.
Despite losing the 2024 election, Harris remains a strong contender within the Democratic Party. In a 2025 poll, she topped the list of who Democrats would back in the 2028 presidential primary, showing that she still has significant support within the party. Harris is considering running for governor of California, and while some urge her to decide quickly, she has the luxury of time as she remains a popular figure.
Donating to Harris: Steps to Support Her Presidential Bid
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris is the current vice president and the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. She is the first woman of colour to be a major party's presidential nominee.
Harris has a complicated and sometimes contradictory legacy on criminal justice. She has been praised for her pragmatic approach to politics and her focus on individual fixes to specific problems. She has also been criticised for being cautious and unwilling to take a stance on controversial issues. Harris has had a career marked by firsts, including becoming the country's first Indian-American senator in 2017.
Public opinion on Harris soured in the summer of 2021. However, she has since gained support from prominent figures, including President Joe Biden, who offered his full support and endorsement for Harris to be the Democratic nominee. Harris is currently in a dead heat with former President Donald Trump among all registered voters, with 48% saying they would vote for her if the election were held today.
Harris has acknowledged that her record on criminal justice is complicated and has expressed regret for some of her past decisions. She has also emphasised her commitment to progressive values and her desire to address the issues that keep the average voter up at night.
There are several ways to show your support for Harris, including:
- Volunteering for her campaign: This could involve making phone calls, knocking on doors, or helping to register voters.
- Donating to her campaign: Financial contributions can help fund Harris's campaign activities and advertising.
- Spreading the word: Talking to friends and family about why you support Harris and encouraging them to vote can also make a difference.
